Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / The South African government provides human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to public school girls for free. The study aimed to investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices towards HPV vaccination, of caregivers of girls aged ≥9 years in grade 4 to 7 attending private schools in South Africa. Objectives included determining levels of knowledge; describing attitudes; describing practices; and investigating levels of knowledge and attitudes of caregivers associated with HPV vaccination coverage in these girls. Turfloop Research Ethics Committee granted ethical clearance. A link to an online survey (Survey Monkey®, USA) was circulated to caregivers via an email to school principals and a Facebook advert. Epi InfoTM was used for data analysis. While 76.5% of caregivers had good knowledge about cervical cancer and HPV vaccination, 45.3% had positive attitudes towards HPV vaccination and 19.4% of the girls were vaccinated. Caregivers with good knowledge were 3.6 (95% CI: 1.6-8.0; p<0.005) times more likely to have vaccinated their daughters/wards, while caregivers with a positive attitude were 5.2 (95% CI: 2.9-9.2; p<0.05) times more likely. The low HPV vaccination uptake is concerning. Results suggest that a positive attitude towards HPV vaccination is a strong predictor of its uptake. / University of Limpopo, Anova Health Institute and National Research Foundation (NRF)

Seasonal influenza, or the flu, impacts over 3 million people each year. Within the health sector, nosocomial infection and absenteeism are frequently associated with the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend flu vaccination for all eligible individuals, especially health care workers (HCWs). Interventions associated with increased HCW vaccination include educational programs and occupational health campaigns to address misconceptions regarding vaccine safety and efficacy. This project evaluated the impact of a voluntary, web-based education module to encourage registered nurse (RN) vaccination. The logic and health belief models served as the theoretical frameworks. In a nonequivalent group design, an educational program addressing evidence-based barriers to vaccination was delivered at 1 acute-care hospital and was not delivered at a comparison hospital within the health system. A total of 192 surveys (116 at intervention facility) were returned over 3 weeks. Statistically significant differences (x2 = 7.210, p = 0.007) were found for RNs who accepted influenza vaccination after education when compared to the RNs not receiving education. The 15% higher vaccination rate for RNs receiving education (91.1% vs. 76.1%) translates into more than 100 additional vaccinated RNs if applied across both hospitals. This project found that a simple but tailored web-based educational program is effective in converting RNs to vaccination acceptance. Increased vaccination produces societal change by reducing nosocomial and community influenza transmission. Reduced influenza infection improves community health as well as patient safety. Future work should address community-wide HCW education initiatives and evaluate their impact on quality and financial indicators at the hospital and community levels.

Background: Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective preventive measures against infectious diseases. A proper administration of the vaccine is critical. Therefore, only authorized and trained health care personnel including pharmacists can administrate vaccines safely and effectively. However, in Sweden, several laws and regulations prevent pharmacists to perform vaccinations. Aim: The aim was to elucidate the conditions and regulations of influenza vaccination administration by pharmacists at pharmacies in other countries compared to Sweden. Methods: A literature review were performed. Two different databases, PubMed and Web of Science were used. In addition, reports of governmental and various organizations were used. Interviews have been used as a complement. Results: Involving pharmacists in vaccination administration improves the vaccine coverage. This result was confirmed by pharmacist performing vaccine administration in other countries such as the USA, Canada, UK and Norway. However, these benefits are limited in Sweden due to the regulation HSLF-FS 2017:37, which hampers vaccines administration by pharmacists. Nevertheless, the regulation SOSFS 1997:14 could be interpreted as allowing clinical doctors to delegate vaccination to pharmacists. However, this needs to be further investigated. All Swedish representatives interviewed in this report, supported the idea that pharmacists should be able to perform vaccines at Swedish pharmacies. Conclusions: Modification of the regulation HSLF-FS 2017: 37 as well as proper education and training are required to allow pharmacists to perform vaccinations in Swedish pharmacies.

Bakgrund: Vaccination anses vara den mest effektiva åtgärd inom modern medicin för att förhindra spridning av sjukdomar. En bred vaccinationstäckning för barn och ungdomar sker när vaccinationer utförs i skolan. Trots dess nytta kan vaccination vara smärtsam för barn, vilket kan påverka deras välbefinnande och framtida smärttolerans. Skolsköterskor spelar en nyckelroll i att minimera vaccinationssmärta genom användning av olika strategier, särskilt avledningsstrategier. Syfte: Syftet med denna intervjustudie är att belysa vilka strategier skolsköterskan använder för att minimera vaccinationssmärta. Metod: Studien är en intervjustudie som utgick från en kvalitativ design med en induktiv ansats. Semistrukturerade intervjuer utfördes med 9 skolsköterskor. Data analyserades med innehållsanalys enligt Elo &amp; Kyngäs. Resultat: Resultatet bildade fem kategorier och 13 subkategorier. Skolsköterskorna använde flera olika strategier för att minska vaccinationssmärtan hos eleverna. Resultatet delades in i kategorierna att ge tydlig information till elever kan minska smärta, att avleda är en viktig strategi, att skapa en trygg och tillitsfull situation för eleven vid vaccination, att öka elevens känsla av kontroll och emotionella stöd vid vaccination och att vara trygg i yrkesrollen skapar ökade möjligheter att eleven upplever mindre vaccinationssmärta. Under vaccinationsprocessen fokuserar skolsköterskorna på elevernas individuella behov genom att använda information och olika avledningsstrategier för att minimera smärta  Slutsats: De elevanpassade strategierna möjliggör för eleven att känna sig delaktig i sin vård. / Background: Vaccination is considered the most effective measure in modern medicine to prevent the spread of diseases. A wide vaccination coverage for children and adolescents occurs when vaccinations are performed in schools. Despite its benefits, vaccination can be painful for children, which can affect their well-being and future pain tolerance. School nurses play a key role in minimizing vaccination pain through the use of various strategies, especially distraction strategies. Aim: The aim of this interview study is to highlight the strategies used by school nurses to minimize vaccination pain.Method: The study is an interview study based on a qualitative design with an inductive approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 9 school nurses. Data were analyzed using content analysis according to Elo &amp; Kyngäs. Results: The results formed five categories and 13 subcategories. School nurses used several different strategies to reduce vaccination pain in students. The results were divided into the categories of providing clear information to students can reduce pain, diversion being an important strategy, creating a safe and trusting situation for the student during vaccination, increasing the student's sense of control and emotional support during vaccination, and being confident in the professional role creates increased opportunities for the student to experience less vaccination pain.  Conclusion: During the vaccination process, school nurses focus on students' individual needs by using information and various distraction strategies to minimize pain. These student-centered strategies enable the student to feel involved in their care.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1955 N67 / Master of Science

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Introduction This descriptive, quantitative perception survey aimed to determine the opinions and treatment regimes of registered South African homoeopaths, regarding childhood vaccinations. Purpose / Aim The purpose of this survey was to determine if there is a coherent treatment protocol amongst homoeopaths when dealing with childhood vaccinations. Methodology The researcher used a questionnaire (Appendix B), aimed at homoeopaths registered with the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA), as primary health care practitioners, to view their patient management techniques regarding vaccinations. This study aimed to document the intervention protocols offered concurrently or as an alternative to orthodox vaccinations. A participant information letter (Appendix A) and a questionnaire (Appendix B) were faxed or e-mailed to all homoeopaths. After a two week time lapse, an independent third party contacted the participants who had not returned the questionnaires to ensure they had received the questionnaire. A further 2 weeks were allowed to lapse for the return of the outstanding questionnaires, after which time the non-complying candidates were excluded from the study. v Anonymity was maintained as the 93 completed questionnaires were returned to the third party. All personal details were removed before the researcher was allowed access to the questionnaires. The data accumulated was evaluated and statistically analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square tests, frequency tables, bar charts, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post hoc multiple comparison tests. A p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results Polio was the only disease that participants felt should be vaccinated against (40%) and only 10.1% of participants rated vaccinations as very important. Half (55.3%) of the participants thought there was not enough scientific proof that vaccinations prevent infectious disease. The participants rated improved sanitization (82.9%); nutrition (72%); access to healthcare (65%); healthcare (64.6%) and education (64.2%) as the most important interventions contributing to the decline of infectious diseases. Conclusions The assumption that most homoeopaths disagree with vaccinations held true as 72% of the participants were not in favor of vaccinations. However, 44.4% felt that the risks of vaccinations did not outweigh the benefits. Results indicate that the majority of participants did not support the use of vaccinations although their treatment protocols and general opinions regarding vaccinations varied tremendously. vi In conclusion, the homoeopathic profession can use this information to decide what steps should be taken to rectify any misconceptions, improve general knowledge and attitudes regarding homoeopaths’ opinions and intervention protocols with regards to childhood vaccinations.

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Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection that represents a serious health issue that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Although FDA-approved vaccines for the prevention against the majority of strains responsible for cervical cancer and genital warts have been available for many years, immunization rates remain low. This study will consider cervical cancer as the main consequence of HPV and thus will investigate parents of daughters. This is of particular relevance to Arizona, given the large Hispanic population and the racial and ethnic disparities that exist in the incidence, mortality and survival of cervical cancer when compared to the national average. Administration of the three-dose series is recommended for girls and boys beginning at 12 years of age. The target population of this study was parents as the HPV vaccine necessitates parental consent and immunization rates remain low. This study specifically aimed to explore the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of Hispanic parents in Maricopa County toward the HPV vaccine in efforts to identify barriers to immunization and create future implications for practice. Findings were consistent with previous literature: Hispanic parents exhibited suboptimal knowledge regarding HPV and HPV vaccination. Specific opportunities for education include the etiology, transmission and health consequences of HPV. Despite many areas for education, the majority of Hispanic parents indicated they would follow their health providers' recommendation on vaccination.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Zoology / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.